Despite abundant physical obstacles, Kutztown’s Lauren Akers remains golden
Track and Field coverage sponsored by ATT Sports., Inc.
By Julie Pelchar Cohen — MikeDragoSports.com senior correspondent
SHIPPENSBURG — Lauren Akers disassembled herself after assembling a collection of golden throws.
The Kutztown junior started by removing a brace that protects a knee surgically repaired three times.
Her coach helped her with the next step, unweaving layers of wrap that protect a weary elbow.
“She’s like an onion,” said Cougars coach Michael Aboulhouda. “She’s got a lot of layers that we’ve got to work through.”
One wouldn’t have ever guessed that Akers was plowing her way through self doubt during Friday’s opening day of the District 3 Track and Field Championships at Shippensburg University.
One of the best throwers in the state, Akers easily and successfully defended her Class 2A javelin title with a throw of 131 feet, 1 inch.
“I felt the expectations,” Akers said. “I had people coming after me. I definitely had to hold my ground. Last year was hard, but it’s definitely harder to stay on top.”
Wyomissing’s Addie Cohen took a second trip to the podium’s highest step as a repeat winner on the track. The junior easily won her second straight Class 2A 3200 title. They were Berks’ lone girls’ champions.
Akers is taking her javelin to new heights this spring. She added 17 feet to last year’s personal best with the 139-7 that she hit two weekends ago at the Shaner Meet.
Akers has also been remarkably consistent. She’s thrown over 130 in five straight meets. Friday’s toss was more than 10 feet better than the rest of the field.
The knee brace and the elbow wrap are deceiving. She’s as strong as ever.
Akers protects her elbow because she injured it early in the season. The wrap protects her from hyperextending it when she throws.
The brace is another story. Akers will probably always protect her left knee.
She has an unusual medical issue that stems from a playground accident when she was 6 years old. Ever since she jammed her knee sliding down a sliding board, it “grows extra cartilage.”
Akers has had three surgeries to remove the extra growth that “breaks off and gets jammed in there.”
“I’ll have to keep getting surgeries,” she said.
Akers said the issue is most commonly seen in middle-aged men and even then it’s very unusual.
“I guess it’s someone telling me you’ve got to work for this,” Akers said.
Akers is doing just that. She’s focusing more on the mental aspect of throwing, which Aboulhouda addresses with Akers and Brandywine Heights thrower Meaghan Miller, who took silver Friday and practices with the Kutztown throwers.
Akers admits her self doubt isn’t logical. After all, her best throw currently ranks ninth in Pennsylvania.
A good scare helped Akers shake it Friday. Even though she led from the start, she didn’t hit her stride until late in the competition.
She led by only a few feet heading into her second throw of finals, when she finally cracked 130. Her best throw was her last.
“I felt like everyone was coming toward me and attacking me,” Akers said. “There were a couple times people were creeping up. I was getting nervous until I got that 130 out of the way.”
While Friday’s best wasn’t Akers’ personal best, Aboulhouda understood its significance.
“It’s a different environment to come out and compete at a place where everyone is watching.” Aboulhouda said. “It’s a lot of pressure. To be able to hit a mark like that is something special.”
